As NCIS heads further into the fifth season, the crime drama series is also positively climbing the ratings. As reported previously, the show surprisingly did very well for the week of October 15, attracting more than 17.5 million viewers and landing the number 6 spot just behind Grey's Anatomy. While many are wondering how NCIS managed to conquer such a rare feat, new executive producers, Charles Floyd Johnson and Shane Brennan, reveals their efforts on how they keep the series fresh.

Broadcast on CBS, NCIS is a show that follows a team of special agents that investigates crimes involving persons and property associated with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. It stars Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs), David McCallum (Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard), Pauley Perrette (Abigail "Abby" Sciuto), Cote de Pablo (Ziva David), Michael Weatherly (Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo), and Lauren Holly (Jenny Shepard), just to name a few.

While series creator Don Bellisario tried to fuel the show with mini story arcs, Johnson and Brennan, who are now tasked to hold Bellisario's duties, attempt to build carefully on a “solid template.”

"When considering where to take the show, we realized there are unanswered questions about Gibbs and Abby and McGee and Ducky. We decided it's a great time to answer those questions, and we're turning snippets into story arcs," Johnson said.

"We're lifting the veil, not pulling it off but giving [viewers] a little peek," Brennan added.

For Harmon, who is reportedly the reason why Bellisario left the show, he's comfortable with the changes and believes that the shift plays a big part on why the series is reaping high ratings.

"We're all part of favoring growth ... [Brennan and Johnson] have pushed that forward this year, and the audience has responded," he said.